Les consultants au cœur des interdépendances de l'espace de la gestion

Abstract

This article sheds light on links between the world of consulting and the world of the organizations which use consultants' services. It calls into question the place and the growing influence of consultants within economic, public and the voluntary spheres. It suggests to understand the latter as the result of a dynamic which leads each actor in these worlds to behave as « a professional », which means basing their practice on the mastery of specialized and appropriate knowledge, techniques and tools. These enable these actors to legitimate their claims to help solve organizational problems. Consultants present themselves as experts in this knowledge. Thus they meet, and sustain, the demand shared by their clients for a professional figure. This figure, institutionalized by the academic world, is played by the « manager », known as the person who is able to implement the principles of Control, Performance and Rationality.